February: “And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!’” (Romans 10.15 NKJV) That is precisely one of the things we’ve come to do alongside the SEPAZ Foundation. Thanks for sending us to Colombia!

During our visits to UNIBAUTISTA (The Baptist University Foundation and Baptist Theological Seminary in Cali) we met Pastor Luz Amparo. She is the founder and director of the SEPAZ Foundation, a nonprofit organization that seeks to promote sorority, equity, and peace. She and Pastor Javier, her husband, are also related to the UNIBAUTISTA, our main host partner in Colombia. Their ministry relates to people in the rural communities, indigenous groups, and women. During our visit to Cali, she invited us to visit their neck of the woods to meet those they serve alongside and empower through their ministry.

Pastor Bolívar and his wife Horlaida, received us with some of the women from the congregation. As we sat in their building under construction, they shared with us the struggles they have faced for being Christians and “Paez”, one of more than 80 recognized indigenous groups in Colombia. They endure discrimination even from their own, just for their faith in Jesus Christ. And, they endured the challenges that the time with the guerillas, drug trafficking, and paramilitaries brought to the country for more than half a century. They are living proof of how God sustains those who call upon Him and are devoted to preaching His gospel of peace. SEPAZ holds workshops in their sanctuary throughout the year.

That day we also visited Pastor Fabio and his wife Lina. What a view from their house and home church! When we talk about missions, we emphasize serving wherever we are and not just when leaving our country. Pastor Fabio is Colombian and was willing to leave the capital city to move into the rural communities, at the heart of the conflict. He learned the Paez language and is quite effective in his ministry among the indigenous. And, talk about building with your own hands; a beautiful house and sanctuary with a view that inspires one to worship and share God’s peace.

Our last visit that day with Luz Amparo was to don German. He owns land and a house that has been used for treatment and recovery of addicts; but, “New Horizons” has been closed for a while as they lack the resources to revamp and put it back in shape to serve the many men and women in the area who are struggling with their addictions. Meanwhile, don German continues farming the land and keeping busy while hoping that this place will soon be a place for many to find their own “new horizons”. Pastor Fabio is part of these efforts in their community.

On our way in and our way out, we saw this sign on the road: “PEACE” We are grateful to the Foundation for inviting us to join their ministry in Colombia. Pray with us as we explore how can we best accompany them. Meanwhile, we keep writing our Bible study materials, working toward the launching of the VI Global Baptist Peace Conference (GBPC) in Cali (February 27th) in anticipation of the full conference, July 15-20, 2019 (Luz Amparo cochairs), and visiting churches. Next month it’s time to share about the Colombian Baptist Denomination and their churches.

Stretching further toward the goal “with peace”,
your BGs Et Al

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International Ministries, also known as the American Baptist
Foreign Mission Society, works cross-culturally to invite people to become
disciples of Jesus Christ and to proclaim, through both word and deed, God's
reign of justice, peace and abundant life for all creation.

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